Africa

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the recommendations made in The Other Side of the Coin: The United Kingdom and Corruption in Africa, the report of the Africa All-Party Group; and what action they are taking.

Lord Triesman: I welcome the report of the all-party group. Its analysis is a helpful contribution to the debate on how best to tackle international corruption, especially in Africa. Corruption has hindered the development of too many African countries for too long. A cross-Whitehall approach is necessary to tackle the issue, and the relevant government departments will consider and discuss the report to provide a fuller response to the Africa All-Party Group.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why increases in Armed Forces pensions are made by regulations laid under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 and increases in disablement and death service pensions under the Social Security (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1977 rather than, in both cases, under the Armed Forces (Pensions and Compensation) Act 2004.

Lord Drayson: The arrangements for increasing payments in respect of pensions and compensation reflect the different statutory bases of the various schemes and the normal procedures for uplifting public sector pensions. This does not affect the outcome for the individual beneficiary: all pensions and continuing awards under the Armed Forces compensation scheme are protected from the effects of inflation by annual increases in line with the all items retail prices index.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 March (WA 151–52), why young recruits have their period of reckonable service taken from their 18th birthday and not from the date on which they joined the Armed Forces.

Lord Drayson: This provision is related to the Armed Forces pension scheme 1975 (AFPS). When this scheme was designed, other ranks' engagements commencement date was linked to the age from which time towards reckonable service for pension began—ie, the date of the 18th birthday.
	However, under the new Armed Forces pension scheme (AFPS 05) reckonable service for pension purposes counts from the date of entry, irrespective of age. All new recruits since 6 April 2005 are eligible to be members of the Armed Forces pension scheme 2005. Those who joined before 6 April 2005 who are members of AFPS 75, and who will still be in service on 6 April 2006, have been given the option to transfer to AFPS 05. By doing so, they will be allowed to count any pre-18 service as reckonable for pension purposes.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 March (WA 152), what guidance on conscientious objection is given to young people joining the Armed Forces.

Lord Drayson: As I explained to the noble Lord in earlier Written Answers on 10 January (WA 32) and 9 March (WA 152), during the recruit selection process the staff at the Armed Forces careers offices provide comprehensive written and verbal guidance to all potential recruits, in particular those under 18 years of age and their parents, regarding the nature of the commitment they will be undertaking, their terms of service and rights to discharge. The Armed Forces are wholly volunteer organisations and as such no specific guidance on conscientious objection is provided.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 March (WA 152), who is considered in loco parentis for minors leaving care homes in the selection process for the Armed Forces.

Lord Drayson: When a minor who is subject to a care order applies to join the Armed Forces, the circumstances of the case are investigated. Where the local authority is the legal guardian (in loco parentis), a responsible representative of the authority would be required to sign the written consent form to allow the application to proceed. Where doubt exists as to the child's ability to make a reasoned choice to enlist, or if the guardianship is unclear, the Armed Forces would require the family court to give written consent to proceed.

Bethlehem: Rachel's Tomb

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions they have held with international bodies such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation concerning the activities taking place around Bethlehem's Rachel's Tomb.

Lord Triesman: We have had no discussions with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation or other international bodies about Rachel's Tomb.

Blasphemy

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will initiate a public consultation on the reform of blasphemy law, having regard to the recommendations of the Law Commission for England and Wales and subsequent events.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have no plans to initiate a public consultation, but would be content to listen to representations on the subject.

Child Protection: Bichard Inquiry

Baroness Harris of Richmond: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the technical evaluation of the cross-regional information project, outlined in the Home Office progress report of November 2005 on meeting the Bichard recommendations, has been carried out; and
	Whether the results of the technical evaluation of the cross-regional information project, outlined in the Home Office's progress report of November 2005 on meeting the Bichard recommendations, will be incorporated into the business case for the Intelligence Management Prioritisation Analysis Co-ordination Tasking programme.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: A preliminary evaluation of the Cross-Regional Information Sharing Project (CRISP) product was carried out during August and September 2005 using independent advisers. This evaluation found that the CRISP product was inherently capable of providing the basis for a cross-border information-sharing system, deployed more widely, subject to some further development. More detailed work on assessment, testing and stabilisation began in November 2005 and is continuing. The IMPACT programme business case identifies the CRISP product as a means of providing an interim local and cross-border information-sharing capability and confirms the value of continuing work to introduce a common national data standard, based on the CRISP data schema.

Consultants: DCMS

Lord Smith of Clifton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent in each year on external management consultants by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its agencies from 2000 to 2005.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The amount spent by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on external management consultants in each of the years 2002–05 is as follows.
	
		
			  
			 2002 £458,415 
			 2003 £672,145 
			 2004 £1,032,320 
			 2005 £518,060

Consultants: Defra

Lord Smith of Clifton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent each year on external management consultants by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its agencies from 2000 to 2005.

Lord Bach: The department came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally, the core department's expenditure on management and business consultancy in the three financial years 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 was £15.32 million, £20.26 million, and £14.12 million respectively. The final figure for the financial year 2005–06 is being compiled currently and I shall write to the noble Lord with this information once departmental year end accrual processes are complete.
	The core department does not hold information centrally identifying expenditure on external management consultants by its executive agencies, independent statutory bodies, non-departmental public bodies, and organisations and bodies financially sponsored by the department. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Consultants: Department for Constitutional Affairs

Lord Smith of Clifton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent in each year on external management consultants by the Department for Constitutional Affairs and its agencies from 2000 to 2005.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Department for Constitutional Affairs also replies on behalf of its associated offices and agencies, HM Courts Service and the Public Guardianship Office.
	For the financial years from April 2000 to March 2005, expenditure by my department on external management consultants was as follows:
	
		
			  
			 2000–01 £3,421,412 
			 2001–02 £8,707,694 
			 2002–03 £7,134,726 
			 2003–04 £9,782,688 
			 2004–05 £10,668,188

Consultants: Department for International Development

Lord Smith of Clifton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent in each year on external management consultants by the Department for International Development and its agencies from 2000 to 2005.

Baroness Amos: I refer the noble Lord to the responses given by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for International Development to my honourable friend for Great Grimsby on 10 October 2005, Official Report, col. 53W, and to the honourable Member for Cheltenham on 9 January 2006, Official Report, col. 204W. These provided the cost of consultants to the Department for International Development (DfID) from 2000 to 2005.

Consultants: Ministry of Defence

Lord Smith of Clifton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much was spent each year on external management consultants by the Ministry of Defence and its agencies from 2000 to 2005.

Lord Drayson: Specific data on how much the Ministry of Defence spent on external management consultants are available in the Library for 2003 and 2004. The figures for 2005 will be placed in the Library before the Summer Recess.
	The data for years 2000–02 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate effort.
	Summaries of MoD expenditure on external assistance, of which management consultancy is a part, are available in the Library for years 1995–2004.

Courts: Vulnerable Defendants

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to bring forward legislation with provisions relating to vulnerable defendants.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Office for Criminal Justice Reform is working with colleagues across the criminal justice system on a package of special procedures intended to enable vulnerable defendants with limited cognitive function to participate effectively in their trials. Most of these procedures are non-legislative, and are expected to be promulgated in July. The exception is provision for such defendants to give evidence through a live link, for which the Government propose to legislate as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Deepcut Review

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 January (WA 3), whether, following the report of the Deepcut review, they will review the policy of recruiting minors into the Armed Forces.

Lord Drayson: The Deepcut review, published on 29 March 2006, supported the continued recruitment of under-18s into the Armed Forces.
	We are committed to the continuous improvement of training and welfare of recruits, and the Deepcut review will add momentum to this process of change. All the recommendations proposed in the review are being considered in detail to see how they may best be implemented without reducing the effectiveness of our necessarily robust and challenging military training environment.
	The Government's response to the Deepcut review will be published in full.

Deepcut Review

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether and, if so, when they will establish a commissioner of military complaints (the Armed Forces ombudsman), as recommended by the Deepcut review.

Lord Drayson: We are committed to the continuous improvement of training and welfare of recruits, and the Deepcut review, published on 29 March 2006, will add momentum to this process. All the recommendations proposed in the review are being considered in detail to see how they may best be implemented, without reducing the effectiveness of our necessarily robust and challenging military training environment.
	The Government's response to the Deepcut review will be published in full.

Digital Television

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether digital television will be available in London and the south-east region prior to the official opening of the Olympic Games in 2012.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The vast majority of households in London and the south-east can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via at least one of digital satellite, digital terrestrial, cable or DSL broadband.
	Switchover for the London region will happen in the first half of 2012.

Driving Licences

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why national driving licences will be retained until 2032 when new European Union-wide licences will be available in six years' time.

Lord Davies of Oldham: New measures on driving licences are proposed as part of a new European Union directive, which has yet to be adopted by the European Union institutions. One such new measure is to require member states to issue all new full (that is, non-provisional) driving licences in photocard format in accordance with an agreed European Union model, which reflects existing practice in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Another new measure would require member states to withdraw all old model licences, to replace them with such a European Union format photocard licence, and to do so within 20 years of the date of implementation of the new measures in the member states. On current indications that would mean by 2032.
	Regardless of the prospective new European Union requirements but wholly in accordance with what is proposed, we wish to be able to decide to withdraw and replace our pre-photocard driving licences, and we are seeking powers in the Road Safety Bill to enable this. Such a decision would be taken largely on grounds of the need to strengthen the security of the driving licence system against fraud. Although no such decision has yet been taken, it is very likely that we would wish to do so much sooner than required by the proposed new directive.

Extraordinary Rendition Flights

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will alert police and Customs officers if they have reasonable suspicion of the likelihood or possibility that aircraft owned or chartered by the Central Intelligence Agency, passing through British airports, may be conducting illegal renditions.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government are clear that the US Government would not render a detainee through UK territory or airspace without our permission. I refer the noble Lord to the Foreign Secretary's Written Ministerial Statement of 20 January (Official Report, col. 784W) in another place.

Firearms: Airguns

Lord Palmer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made an assessment of the average cost to those small businesses selling airguns which will have to apply to become registered firearms dealers under the proposals in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill; and
	Whether an impact assessment has been carried out into the additional costs to small businesses selling airguns which will have to apply to become registered firearms dealers under the proposals in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill; and
	Whether they have made an assessment of how many airguns are bought other than through a commercial dealer; and
	Whether they have made an assessment of the size of the mail order market for airguns compared to the number sold face-to-face by commercial dealers.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The impact assessment which was carried out concluded that retailers who are already registered as firearms dealers (RFDs) will incur no extra costs. Other retailers will have to pay £150 to register for three years. They will also incur some extra costs if they need to install additional security measures, although this should be minimal. We understand that around 200,000 new air weapons are sold each year through RFDs, sports shops, hardware stores, tackle shops, camping shops and the like. Around 9 per cent are estimated to be sold through mail order, although this is thought to be rising. It is not possible to estimate the number of second-hand air weapons sold each year.

Firearms: Airguns

Lord Glenarthur: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What research has been carried out on the effect of the recent changes in airgun legislation in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003; and what evidence there is to justify the raising of the age limit for owning airguns from 17 to 18 under the Violent Crime Reduction Bill; and
	What assessment has been made of the potential impact on (a) scouts; (b) cadets; and (c) similar youth organisations by the restrictions on airguns in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill; and what representations they have received on the issue.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The reduction in the number of air weapon crimes in 2004–05 is a welcome indication that the measures we introduced in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 are working. However, there were still 11,825 offences resulting in over 1,500 injuries and we believe that an increase in the age limit to 18 will assist in further reducing this unacceptably high level of offending. We have received a range of representations about the impact on young shooters generally. They will still be able to use air weapons under controlled conditions—eg, under adult supervision, at approved shooting clubs or, if they are over 14, on private premises with the owner's consent.

Firearms: Airguns

Lord Mancroft: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What studies and research have been conducted by the Home Office into the best means of tackling the misuse of airguns; and
	Whether they have made an assessment of the measures which are taken by other countries to tackle airgun misuse; and, if so, what were the findings of such assessment.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The misuse of air weapons in Great Britain is kept under constant review and subject to regular statistical analysis. There have been no specific studies in relation to practice in other countries, which can differ widely in their levels of controls. It is generally acknowledged that there is no single, simple solution to the problem of misuse and that a range of measures is needed to deal with different aspects of it.

Firearms: Airguns

Lord Northbourne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many offences involving airguns they anticipate will be prevented by the proposal within the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to restrict the sale of airguns to registered firearms dealers only; and
	How many offences involving airguns they anticipate will be prevented by the proposal within the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to raise the age limit to buy an airgun from 17 to 18.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In 2004–05 there were 11,825 crimes in which air weapons were used. It is not possible to say how many of these offences will be prevented by the measures in the Bill, but we believe that restricting the points of sale and increasing the age limit for buying an airgun from 17 to 18 will help to tackle the problem at source.

Firearms: Airguns

Lord Geddes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence is available to show that raising the age limit for ownership of an airgun from 17 to 18 will have any effect on firearms misuse.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The misuse of air weapons by young people is unlikely to occur when they are under adult supervision and a further increase in the age limit to 18 will assist in reducing the unacceptable number of offences currently committed with air weapons.

Firearms: Blank-firing Pistols

Lord Palmer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether exceptions will be made under the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to ensure that blank-firing pistols, used in the training of gundogs, can continue to be used.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It will still be possible to train dogs using blank-firing pistols provided they are distinguishable by virtue of size, shape or principal colour from a real firearm.

Firearms: Consultation

Lord Brougham and Vaux: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they have brought forward further firearms legislation under the Violent Crime Reduction Bill before publishing the response to the Home Office 2004 consultation paper Controls on Firearms.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We have a duty to act immediately when it becomes apparent that steps are needed to protect public safety. In particular, the increasing use of imitation firearms in crime means we need to place restrictions on their general availability.

Firearms: Training Shotguns

Lord Northbourne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether exceptions will be made under the provisions in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill to ensure that training shotguns with snap caps can continue to be used in the instruction of young people in the responsible use of shotguns.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It will still be possible to purchase training shotguns with snap caps for instructional purposes provided they are distinguishable by virtue of size, shape or colour from a real firearm. Existing guns and any used for training purposes which require a shotgun certificate are not affected by the Bill.

Fluoridation

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What professional guidance they have issued regarding the safety for human consumption of (a) hexafluorosilicic acid; and (b) disodium fluoro-silicate.

Lord Warner: These chemicals are used in the fluoridation of water supplies. Safeguards on their use are contained in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000, which set a maximum permissible concentration of fluoride in drinking water of 1.5 milligrams per litre.

Fluoridation

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many letters the Department of Health has received from members of the public in each year since 2000 requesting that a scheme for the artificial fluoridation of water supplies be introduced in their area.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health has received around 1,315 pieces of correspondence since January 2000 that dealt with the issue of fluoridation. To ascertain which of these were pro-fluoridation would incur disproportionate cost.

Fluoridation

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which strategic health authorities have discussed the policy of artificial fluoridation of water supplies at board meetings to which the public have been invited to attend.

Lord Warner: We are not aware of any strategic health authorities that have discussed fluoridation at board level.

Fluoridation

Lord Monson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which research studies on total human exposure to fluoride from all sources have been commissioned by the Department of Health and the National Health Service in the past five years.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health has commissioned three relevant research studies.
	A Systematic Review of Public Water Fluoridation, published by the University of York in 2000, recommended that future studies on the effects of fluoridation should attempt to measure total fluoride exposure.
	Water Fluoridation and Health, published by the Medical Research Council in 2002, agreed that it is important to understand better the total exposure that individuals are experiencing and to gain a better understanding of any differences there might be in the uptake of fluoride from artificially fluoridated as opposed to naturally fluoridated water.
	In 2004, the University of Newcastle's School of Dental Sciences published a study into the bioavailability (absorption) of fluoride in naturally and artificially fluoridated drinking water, which concluded:
	"There was no statistically significant difference between artificially and naturally fluoridated water, or between soft and hard water".
	We are committed to a continuing programme of research on fluoridation.

Food

Baroness Howe of Idlicote: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the reply by the Lord Warner on 8 March (HL Deb, col. 750), which existing powers would be used in new legislation to regulate the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt to children, if voluntary measures fail to change the nature of food promotion.

Lord Warner: Through the Communications Act 2003, statutory regulation of broadcast advertising already exists. For the regulation of non-broadcast media, existing legislation that could be used should voluntary measures fail to change the nature and balance of food promotion includes the Food Safety Act 1990. However, no decision on the most appropriate form of legislation, if any, will be taken until the Government have conducted their 2007 review.

Freedom of Information

Lord Goodhart: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, they will designate regional assemblies in England as public authorities.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: We are currently evaluating the impact of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on those public bodies covered by the legislation. This evaluation will inform consideration of how best to use the power contained in Section 5 of the Act, which provides for extension of coverage.
	However, it is the Government's expectation that regional assemblies will comply with the sprit of the Act. In March 2006, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reissued to regional assemblies Guidance on the General Principles of Designation of Voluntary Regional Assemblies, which stated the need to have regard to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Gulf War Syndrome

Baroness Park of Monmouth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will set out in the Official Report their replies to the questions asked in the debate on Gulf War illnesses on 2 February (HL Deb, cols. 392–414) by the Lord Craig of Radley, the Lord Morris of Manchester, the Lord Lloyd of Berwick and the Lord Tyler which were unanswered during the debate.

Lord Drayson: I responded to the unanswered questions raised during the debate on Gulf War illnesses on 2 February in letters which were sent separately to Lord Craig, Lord Lloyd, Lord Tyler, Lord Luke and Baroness Murphy on 3 March. The questions raised by Lord Morris were answered during the debate and did not require a further response. A copy of each letter has been placed in the Library.

Gulf War Syndrome

Baroness Park of Monmouth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 January (WA 13) on Gulf War syndrome, why they indicated that they were unaware of a statement by a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence when in a letter to the Baroness Park of Monmouth of 7 March comments by the spokeswoman were acknowledged; and on whose authority her statement was made.

Lord Drayson: Following the Answer given on 9 January (Official Report, col. WA 13) the noble Baroness helpfully provided a copy of an article from Disability Now in her letter to me dated 29 January. The article allowed Ministry of Defence officials to identify the source of the specific statement concerning Gulf War syndrome to which she had referred in her earlier Question. My honourable friend the Minister for Veterans acknowledged, in his letter to the noble Baroness dated 7 March, that the statement in the article was consistent with the Ministry of Defence's policies and procedures with regard to making an award under the war pension scheme and also with the replies provided by Lord Davies of Oldham on 24 November 2005 (HL Deb, cols. 1723–26).

Immigration: Detention Centres

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 15 February (HL Deb, col. 1151), what urgent steps they have taken or are taking to review chaplaincy arrangements in immigration detention centres.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I am satisfied that the current arrangements for the provision of religious affairs in immigration removal centres work well. No concerns have been raised by detainees about these arrangements; nor has HM Chief Inspector of Prisons in her inspections of individual centres, the independent monitoring boards in each centre, or the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman made us aware of any inadequacies in this area.

Income: Cumbria

Lord Smith of Leigh: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will consider a national allocation from European funds to meet the exception case of Cumbria where income is declining.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Cumbria, along with the other areas not eligible for convergence funding under the next round of European structural funds, will be eligible for support under the regional competitiveness and employment objective.
	The Department of Trade and Industry is currently consulting on a draft national strategic reference framework for future structural funds spending. The consultation document can be downloaded at www.dti.gov.uk/europe/nsrf.html. As part of this consultation, we are seeking views on how best to allocate competitiveness funding across the regions. In reaching a decision on this issue, the Government will take full account of the needs of all areas, including Cumbria, and invite the views of all stakeholders on how these needs should be addressed in the future allocation of the funds. The consultation ends on 22 May.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Military Casualties

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What advice or guidance on the media handling of the deaths or injuries of British service personnel serving in (a) Iraq, and (b) Afghanistan has been drawn up since the start of those military engagements; and whether they will place a copy of that advice in the Library.

Lord Drayson: The policies and guidance on handling media interest in the deaths of British service personnel are contained in joint service publication 751. A redacted copy of this document was placed in the Library in December 2005. This emphasises the need, where possible, to respect the wishes of the families in any media interaction. This document is reviewed regularly and replaced three single service documents in April 2005.

Iraq: Police

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When Sir Ronnie Flanagan submitted his report on the United Kingdom's policing programme in Iraq; and what was the total cost of the review.

Lord Drayson: Sir Ronnie Flanagan submitted his final report on the Iraqi police service to the Secretary of State for Defence on 31 January 2006. The study itself came at no additional cost to Her Majesty's Government, although around £26,700 was incurred in air fares and accommodation costs for the team's visits to Iraq.

Iraq: Police

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the paramilitary division of the Iraqi police, known as the Public Order Forces, operates within the Iraqi provinces for which United Kingdom forces have responsibility.

Lord Drayson: The "National Police"—which includes the former public order battalions—is a national asset held in Baghdad, ready to be deployed nationwide to reinforce the Iraqi police service.

Iraq: UK Military Casualties

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each six-month period since the start of military operations in Iraq in 2003, what has been the total number of (a) United Kingdom military deaths; and (b) United Kingdom military casualties.

Lord Drayson: The total number of United Kingdom military deaths for each six-month period since the start of military operations in Iraq in 2003 can be found in the table below.
	
		
			 Six-month period Deaths 
			 (a) (b) 
			 March–August 2003 50 
			 September 2003–February 2004 9 
			 March–August 2004 6 
			 September 2004–February 2005 20 
			 March–August 2005 7 
			 September 2005–February 2006 11 
			 March 2006 — 
			 Total 103 
		
	
	The best figures currently available for UK military and civilian casualties are published on the Ministry of Defence website. These are:
	For the period from March 2003 to 31 December 2005:
	Centrally available remaining records show that some 230 UK military and civilian personnel were treated at UK medical facilities in Iraq for wounds received as a result of hostile action.
	Separate records, from notification of casualty reporting (NOTICAS), show that some 40 UK military and civilian personnel have been categorised as very seriously injured (VSI) from all causes, and that some 70 personnel have been categorised as seriously injured (SI) from all causes. These figures include personnel treated for wounds received as a result of hostile action.
	Up to 4,000 UK military and civilian personnel (including a small number of Iraqis) have been medically evacuated from Iraq. The great majority of these cases were due to illness, accidental injury, routine out-patient treatment in the UK or for compassionate reasons and not as a result of hostile action.
	The total number of UK military and civilian personnel who were admitted to the Shaibah "Role 3" field hospital was 6,609. Of these, 226 were categorised as wounded in action and 6,383 were categorised as suffering disease or non-battle injury.
	For the period from 1 January to 31 January 2006:
	Centrally available records show that 65 UK service personnel were admitted to the Shaibah field hospital. Of these, five were categorised as wounded in action and 60 were categorised with disease or non-battle injury.

Ministry of Defence: Property Holdings

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will launch a new Ministry of Defence programme of divestment of land and property holdings which are surplus to requirements.

Lord Drayson: The future of much of the Ministry of Defence's land and property is already being considered through a process of estate rationalisation, which aims to provide an estate of the right size through consolidation. This is an ongoing process and there are no plans to change or stop it. This department has already achieved disposal receipts in excess of £1.5 billion between 1998 and March 2005 and has targeted a further £895 million of disposal receipts between 2005 and 2010, as part of the ongoing rationalisation process.

National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre: Exercises

Lord Harris of Haringey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 20 March (HL4529), what were the exercises undertaken by the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre in the past two years; what were the private sector companies and other government departments involved in each exercise; and what were the lessons learnt from each such exercise.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The National Security Infrastructure Co-ordination Centre (NISCC) has developed and run four exercises during the past two years with the overall aim of improving the protection of the UK's critical national infrastructure against electronic attack. The government departments and agencies involved were those that collectively have a day-to-day interest in NISCC operations, including the Cabinet Office, the Home Office, MoD, DTI, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) (formerly the National High Tech Crime Unit), the Government Communications Head Quarters (GCHQ) (especially the Communications Electronics Security Group (CESG) and the Security Service.
	Private sector companies were invited to take part in some of the exercises, depending on the theme of the exercise. For confidentiality and security reasons I am not able to divulge details of those companies involved. The exercises tested a number of elements of the response to an electronic attack and many lessons have been learnt. These have ranged from ensuring that the central government departments involved understand their roles in the response to an attack; liaison with the private sector; media handling; briefing Ministers; investigational lead, issuing warnings; responding out of normal hours; and ensuring confidentiality. NISCC has also taken part in a number of international exercises including Exercise Cyber Storm, which incidentally a delegation from the All-Party Group on the Internet was given a briefing on as well as visiting the exercise control during play, and a G8 table-top exercise in May 2005 which was designed to test international co-operation in investigating an electronic attack against a member state.

Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2006

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In relation to Regulation 4 of the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2006, whether there is any commercial confidentiality restriction on the information which may be exchanged between competent authorities.

Lord Warner: The Food Standards Agency has responsibility for the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/15). The exchange of information between one competent authority and another competent authority pursuant to Regulation 4 of the statutory instrument is not prevented because that information may be commercially confidential. However, the exchange of the information does not affect the right of someone to seek legal redress for breach of confidence in respect of that confidential commercial information if it is used inappropriately by the recipient competent authority.

Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2006

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is a "control body" under the terms of Regulation 5 of the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2006.

Lord Warner: The Food Standards Agency is the central competent authority responsible for the Official Feed and Food Controls (England) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/15). The statutory instrument applies, in England, the feed and food elements of Regulation (EC) No. 882/2004 on official feed and food, animal health and animal welfare controls, which itself defines "control body". Such a body is an independent third party to which the central competent authority or local competent authorities (local and port health authorities) may, under specified conditions, delegate certain official control tasks, such as inspections or analysis of samples (tasks relating to formal enforcement action where non-compliance with legal requirements has been found, cannot be delegated). The majority of control bodies currently employed by United Kingdom authorities are privately owned laboratories carrying out chemical analysis or microbiological examination of feed or food for local authority enforcement services, or local government laboratories carrying out work for other authorities on a commercial basis.

Pensions: Pension Credit

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the percentage of all pensioner households which will, on present policies, be eligible to claim pension credit in (a) 2010; (b) 2015; (c) 2020; and (d) 2025.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The numbers eligible to pension credit in the future are subject to a range of uncertainties and a number of factors including the ways that governments choose to uprate benefits. The table shows the projected proportion of pensioner households eligible for pension credit in each year if basic state pension was to be uprated in line with prices and pension credit guarantee with earnings every year to 2025.
	
		Table 1: Projected proportion of pensioner households eligible to pension credit for selected years
		
			  2010 2015 2020 2025 
			 Range 46 to 52 per cent 51 to 57 per cent 55 to 61 per cent 56 to 62 per cent 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Estimates are based on Family Resource Survey data for 2003–04, with incomes and benefits projected forward into the future to estimate the eligibility for each pensioner household on the survey.
	2. As with National Statistics's estimates of eligibility for pension credit in 2003–04, estimates are given as ranges to account for possible biases in Family Resource Survey data. They also take account of the effects of sampling variation. It is assumed that the size of this range remains constant in future years relative to the decreasing proportion of non-eligible pensioner households.
	3. Estimates cover all those aged above women's state pension age in the private household population of Great Britain.
	4. The projections assume the continuation of the current uprating of the standard minimum guarantee by earnings, although the Government have not yet announced how it will be uprated beyond 2008.
	5. Estimates account for equalisation of state pension age between 2010 and 2020. It is assumed that the minimum age at which people can claim pension credit rises in line with women's state pension age.
	6. Estimates are calibrated to the 2003–04 National Statistics estimates of non-eligibility for pension credit, which adjust 2003–04 Family Resource Survey data to take account of possible biases in reporting.

Police: North Wales

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Secretary of State for the Home Department intends to reply to the letter of 20 December 2005 from the North Wales Police Authority.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My right honourable friend the Minister for Policing, Security and Community Safety wrote, on 3 February, to all the Welsh police authority chairs responding to a common set of issues raised by them in individual letters, including the one dated 20 December 2005 from the chairman of the North Wales Police Authority. Since then, the Home Office central team has been in close contact with the police authorities and chief constables.

Police: Reorganisation

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What representations they have received regarding the merger of police forces in Wales; and whether they will place copies of all relevant correspondence and reports in the Library.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Home Office received various representations on the merger of forces in Wales, including from all police forces and authorities in Wales, the Welsh Assembly and local authorities, which were taken into account in developing the case for amalgamation in Wales. The case for amalgamation involving Welsh forces has already been placed in the House of Commons Library and is available on the Home Office website at www.policereform.gov.uk.

Police: Reorganisation

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many representations, including those from the public, they have received to date in favour of the abolition of the Essex police force as a stand-alone force.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To date, the Home Office has received submissions from Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire police forces and authorities involving Essex police force. All forces and authorities recognised a merger involving Essex was viable and an effective way of addressing the gap in protective services identified in the eastern region.

Ports

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the appointment into the pilot service for the port of Clyde of a United Kingdom marine pilot with no seagoing qualifications or experience complies with (a) the current custom and practice of recruiting class 1 (master mariners); and (b) the current work being undertaken by the Port Marine Safety Code Steering Group in connection with national occupation standards (NOS) for marine pilots.

Lord Davies of Oldham: It is for each competent harbour authority to determine the qualifications it requires from its marine pilots, in terms of skills, local knowledge and time of service.
	The current work of the Port Marine Safety Code Steering Group on national occupational standards for marine pilots recognises the lead responsibility of competent harbour authorities and is taking full account of recruitment and training considerations.

Railways: East Coast Main Line

Lord Rosser: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 20 March (WA 21–22), whether, before awarding the franchise for the east coast main line, the franchising director was certain that Network Rail could offer the paths for the existing and additional services provided for under the franchise, and that preliminary discussions with the Office of Rail Regulation had concluded that there were no significant problems to prevent the track access allocation being completed.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The InterCity east coast franchise was let on the basis that firm rights were in place to operate existing services. The commitment to operate additional services was subject to the franchisee making a successful application to secure track access rights. Network Rail had indicated, prior to the letting of the franchise, that no particular difficulties were foreseen in granting the franchisee rights to operate the 12 additional daily paths that were required to complete the pattern of half-hourly services between London and Leeds.

Schools: Northern Ireland

Lord Steinberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether examination results in grammar schools in Northern Ireland show a higher percentage of success than in similar schools in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Lord Adonis: In 2004–05, 96.1 per cent of pupils in year 12 in grammar schools in Northern Ireland achieved five or more GCSE and equivalent qualifications at Grades A*-C compared with 97.9 per cent of pupils aged 15 in selective schools (maintained sector) in England. Comparable figures for Wales and for Scotland are not available.

Shareholder Executive

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a date has been determined for Mr Richard Gillingwater, chief executive of the Shareholder Executive, to leave his current position; and, if so, when.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: No. His contract runs to September 2006.

Smoking

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much in grants they have given to (a) Action on Smoking and Health, and (b) other anti-smoking organisations in each year from 2000 to 2004 inclusive.

Lord Warner: The Department of Health grants to Action on Smoking Health (ASH) under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Grants £ 
			 2000–01 156,170 
			 2001–02 160,860 
			 2002–03 147,810 
			 2003–04 164,000 
			 2004–05 168,000 
		
	
	Separately ASH in Wales has received grants from the Welsh Office and the National Assembly for Wales as follows.
	
		
			 Financial Year Grants £ 
			 1999–2000 57,5001 
			 2000–01 118,9002 
			 2001–02 98,0452 
			 2002–03 136,9362 
			 2003–04 94,4272 
			 2004–05 84,2002 
		
	
	Notes:
	The grants received by ASH in Wales are solely for work carried out in Wales and their accounts are separately audited from ASH.
	1 Grant received by ASH in Wales from the Welsh Office.
	2 Grant received by ASH in Wales from the National Assembly of Wales.
	The Department of Health has also awarded a grant to the organisation No Smoking Day (NSD), which organises the day with the same name. The details of the grant awarded to NSD are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Grants £ 
			 2000–01 250,000 
			 2001–02 250,000 
			 2002–03 250,000 
			 2003–04 250,000 
			 2004–05 250,0001 
		
	
	Note:
	1 Exclusive of VAT.
	The Department of Health awarded the following grant to QUIT, an organisation that provides support to smokers who want to quit smoking, in 2000–01 under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, for the project "Quitline transitional funding" of £400,000.
	A further award was made to QUIT in 2002–03 for its lone parent and smoking cessation project. The details of the grant awarded to QUIT are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Grants £ 
			 2002–03 10,000 
			 2003–04 20,000 
			 2004–05 25,000

Territorial Army

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current establishment of Territorial Army medical staff by specialisations; and what the establishment will be after implementation of the rebalancing announced on 23 March; and
	What is the current regular Army establishment for medical staff by specialisations; and what plans they have to change this in the time-scale of the Territorial Army rebalancing announced on 23 March.

Lord Drayson: The table below shows the current establishment for regular Army medical staff by specialisation.
	
		
			  
			 Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps(QARANC) 1,080 
			 Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC) 420 
			 Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) 190 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) 3,270 
			 Colonels and above1 60 
			 Total 5,0202 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 These ranks cannot be separated by specialisation.
	2 The data have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	There has been a recent increase of approximately 380 to the regular Army medical staff establishment as part of future Army structures, which is included in the table above. Decisions on future changes to the establishment are yet to be finalised.
	Under Territorial Army (TA) rebalancing the total establishment for TA medical staff will change from 6,884 to 5,268 personnel. The current establishment by specialisation is shown in the table below. Future establishment figures by specialisation are not yet available.
	
		
			  
			 Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps(QARANC) 2,350 
			 Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC) 170 
			 Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) 10 
			 Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) 3,130 
			 Non-medical liability 1,230 
			 Total 6,8901 
		
	
	Note:
	1 The data have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Territorial Army

Lord Garden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many reservists were deployed on operations on 1 January; and what are the planned figures for 1 July 2006 and 1 January 2007.

Lord Drayson: There were approximately 668 reservists deployed on operations on 1 January 2006. Future plans are not sufficiently advanced at this stage to provide figures for 1 July 2006 and 1 January 2007.

Transport: Bus Lanes

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will take sanctions against officials for the delays in implementing the scheme for camera enforcement of bus lanes outside London, which is now further delayed awaiting the setting up of an independent appeal service.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Officials worked very hard to get the regulations and guidance in place. The appeal service is for the local authorities to establish. We understand from the National Parking Adjudication Service that eight councils in England (outside London) hope to have completed all the necessary steps to commence bus lane enforcement this autumn, which will include establishing the appeals service and appointing bus lane adjudicators, subject to the consent of the Lord Chancellor.

Water: Iraq, Turkey and Syria

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 3 November 2004 (WA 34–35), whether they have received any information from United Kingdom embassies in Ankara, Damascus and Baghdad about a dialogue between Iraq, Turkey and Syria on the equitable sharing of trans-boundary water resources; and, if not, whether they will make representations to the United Nations Secretary-General regarding the appointment of a special envoy to facilitate such a dialogue.

Lord Triesman: We do not believe there have been any subsequent trilateral meetings between Iraq, Turkey and Syria on the equitable sharing of trans-boundary water resources. Trans-boundary water resources are discussed as part of ongoing bilateral dialogue between Iraq, Turkey and Syria. We have received no reports on the specific nature of these discussions from the countries concerned. It is the Government's view that it is for the countries concerned to find a lasting way forward.
	The Government have no plans to press for the UN Secretary-General to appoint a special envoy to facilitate a dialogue between these three countries. If called on, the World Bank has a high level of expertise in developing solutions to enable the equitable distribution of trans-boundary water resources. We support the bank's work in the Middle East and other regions.